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DUBUQUE, Iowa — This September, a new chapter in early childhood education began in Dubuque. St. Mark Youth Enrichment proudly opened the doors of the St. Mark Early Childhood Center on September 18th, welcoming its first families to a nature-focused learning environment designed for children from birth to age four. Registration is now open to the public.
Built on a foundation of safety, love, and belonging, the center reflects St. Mark’s longstanding commitment to nurturing the whole child—and ensuring that every child has the chance to thrive from the very beginning.
Located at 3355 Kennedy Circle, the new facility was built with intention, both inside and out. Classrooms are infused with natural elements like a floor-to-ceiling reading tree. Outdoor spaces encourage curiosity, creativity, and calm and will soon be further developed with partnerships with Mowing for Monarchs and Trees Forever programs. Every aspect of the center’s curriculum is grounded in social-emotional development, nature connection, and hands-on discovery.
“Our goal from the beginning was to create a place that truly reflects the wonder of childhood,” said Danielle Willis, Director of Early Childhood. “Here, children are surrounded by nature, kindness, and opportunities to learn and grow at their own pace.”
The center supports children from birth through age four through a research-informed, play-based, and relationship-centered approach that nurtures curiosity, emotional growth, and a lifelong love of learning.
To learn about registration, contact Danielle Willis at the Early Childhood Center at dwillis@stmarkyouthenrichment.org or (563) 552-7240.
The St. Mark Early Childhood Center was established through a generous partnership with Area Residential Care and support from the 2024 Child Care Business Incentive Grant Program, financed with federal funds provided by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of donors and community partners, St. Mark Youth Enrichment also achieved its $1.75 million capital campaign goal, paving the way for this milestone. We are deeply grateful to the individuals, foundations, businesses, and partner organizations who invested in this vision and helped bring it to life for families in our community.

To learn about making a gift or learn more, contact Dawn Cogan at (563) 582-6211; ext. 100 or dcogan@stmarkyouthenrichment.org.
Visit: stmarkyouthenrichment.org/early-childhood

About St. Mark Youth Enrichment
For more than three decades, St. Mark Youth Enrichment has served as a regional leader in out-of-school learning, social-emotional development, and whole-child education. St. Mark supports children from birth through fifth grade through summer programs, after-school enrichment, and—now—early childhood education. The Early Childhood Center is its most ambitious project to date.